~~
SummaryMetal reduction of pyrene and of pyrene isomers under carefully controlled conditions yields the corresponding dianions. The properties of the neutral compounds and of the dianions are studied via 'H-NMR. spectroscopy. Whereas the former exhibit similar behaviour, the charge distribution within the dianionic species proves to be very different. As a consequence, some of the polycyclic dianions can be regarded essentially as (4n)~-perimeters, an approach which is satisfactorily rationalized by simple MO-models. Further evidence in favour of this bonding scheme comes from the ESR. spectroscopic measurement of the spin density distribution within the corresponding radical anions.1. Introduction. -Due to the simple topology of annulenes their eigenvalues within a HMO-model can be determined in a closed form [l]. It is well known that the resulting orbital patterns exhibit certain regularities which allow a straightforward interpretation of various spectroscopic properties [2]. Thus, as the annulenes constitute suitable probes for the ascertainment of theoretical predictions [l] [2] it is not surprising that they also have been invoked as model compounds for more complicated rr-species. Typical examples are represented by the transition states of electrocyclic rearrangements [3] or by unsaturated polycycles.When depicting the possible KekulP-structures for an unsaturated polycycle one can well raise the question whether perimeter-type structures contribute to the ground-state of the molecule. Various molecular properties have been referred to in order to estimate the importance of perimeter structures in polycycles. The charge distribution, e.g. within porphyrin systems, which represent potential [ 181annulenes [4] [5], has been determined from 13C-chemical shifts and from MO-calculations or characteristic ring current effects have been evaluated from 'H-NMR. data in corannulenes [6] and annuleno-annulenes [7].The spectroscopic characterization of n-systems does not necessarily provide a clear-cut conclusion about the specific bonding situations. This short-coming can in part be attributed to the fact that the resulting data depend on geometrical factors such as the configuration or conformation of the rings. However, when transforming